The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-11-30

and the Madame on the cosy, bright and
homelike cabin, in every part of which
were evidences OF womanly taste.
They were not to be outdone in polite
ness and assured me that the mate, who
had carried the note to me that morning,
had returned charmed with my vessel,
which he reported to be in most beautiful
order, or as he expressed il: "Sick as
parlor." OF this had some doubts; it
was my impression that while that whale
boat was alongside we were very busy
hosting ashes, holystoning decks, scrub
bing paint work and in other ways MAX
ing ready for port. did not, however,
correct him; modest as a man may be, he
is not bound to re ject compliments, even
II not wholly deserved No doubt the
mate was a Cape Colder also, and a
very hospitable, CHEEKY, nor'wester sort
of man, and they probably had a most
delightful gam" during which ex-
changes of souvenirs, scrimshawed whale
teeth, tooth ivory pie crust crimpers, etc,
on the one side, versus navy plug tobac-
co on the other, added to the enjoy
ment.
The Madame accepted my compliment
as to the cleanliness, but to my surprise
did not seem to altogether approve of it.
She said that, for her part, much as she
loved cleanliness, her happiest times were
when the vessel was in a most filthy con-
dition. Seeing that l was puzzled, she
explained that she referred to ''cutting
in" days, which on every occasion mean a
goodly sum of money ahead and short
ening of the cruise. At such times the
captured whale is secured alongside by
sings at each end, so arranged that the
body can revolve. The hook of a
masthead purchase is inserted near the
head, on each side of it a spiral tran.
verse cut is made, and the strip of bub.
Der, flesh, etc, is hoisted; when high
enough, a second tackle hook is inserted,
the hoisted strip cut off just above the
last hook, and the great slice, perhaps 30
feet or more by feet, is lowered to the
deck, and there reduced to dimensions
suited to the try-pot. During this pro-
cess the vessel naturally becomes very
bloody and greasy, with patches of SCOT
profusely sprinkled.
After explaining to me, the Madame
asked: did you ever see a whale cut
inW
Fortunately | had She asked me
NhNh dud MnCIt, uul lulS IS lHt SlOTy L
told her: sit was in March, 1865, that
the L. S. S. Connecticut, of which was
executive officer, while making a cruise
through the West Indies, went into
Bridgetown Harbor, Barbados. We
passed, anchored in the outer harbor, an
American whaling schooner, alongside of
which dead whale was secured, and the
crew was busy cutting in. As soon as
we could get boat party of us started
for the schooner to witness the work.
We went on board, and your description
of the state of affairs hardly does Justice
it was about the hardest-looking place we
ever got into. The mate told me that
the day before, the captain and nearly all
hands being on shore, this whale blew,
not more than a mile outside, and that
lowering away he, with the cook, cabin
boy and a couple of hands, had gone out
and captured him."
The Madame listened very attentively,
and seemed greatly interested. She
asked me: "Were there any ladies on
board of that schooner2"
"NOt that know of, " was the answer.
81 did get glimpse of petticoat Just
vanishing through the cabin door, as |
went over the side, but the mate told me
that il was washwoman come for the
old mans wash.
This Madame seemed to consider a
very good joke, and indulged in laugh
more hearty and merry than / could see
that the joke warranted. My surprise
can be better imagined than described.
when, recovering from her laughter, she
remarked: THAT he had no right to
an1 ha to1I hot l, 4 I
did tell him not to let you into the cabin,
nor say word about our being ON
board.n
"Who and what do you meanl" l
interrupted, "Who was tour'?n
Then she told me that she herself and
her sister, young lady, were on board
of that steamer, watched our cutter COM
ing toward them, admired our uniforms,
but when we rounded to alongside, scud
for the cabin, through the window blinds
of which they saw us all the time, vexed
enough, that, arrayed in their 'cutting
in" clothes, they were not in condition
to receive us. And it was the very
schooner which, had boarded in Bar
bados, in which, five years after at Fayal
this story, for which was indebted to
weevils, was told me.
The adventure supplied us with quite
stock of conversation. 1t did seem so
strange that we had so nearly met be-
fore, prevented only by chance, and that
after all this time, flour sieve, or rather
the need of one, had brought us together.
Our CONVEX sation drifted into other chan
nels and we found ourselves comparing
notes as to our nautical experiences. She
told me of the hardest time she had ever
experienced, a tale of voyage during
which, with almost no luck in catching
whales, they did catch fever on the
Africa coast, and had dismal times and a
gloomy voyage.
] in turn got up as pathetic a story as
facts aud imagination would furnish, of
my dreary life ON board of monitor,
dilating on the foul air, darkness, damp
ness and other discomforts attendant
upon being boxed up under water in an
iron box.
She was truly and gratifyingly sorry
for me; she had "seen one of those hor-
rid vessels, and all of the whales in the
Atlantic would not tempt her to live on
board of one"
l asked her when and where she had
seen one, and if she remembered its
name.
"Yes, it was the Nantucket She ran
into Provincetown Harbor one day in the
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